Jet-propelled boat



June 12, 1951 R. .1. HEARON 61 JET PROPELLED BOAT Filed June 25, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v awn/wan;

June 12, 1951 R. J. HEARONV 2,556,619

JET PROPELLED BOAT Filed June 25, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June '12, 1951 UNITED -STATES PATENT OFFICE JET-PROPELLED BOAT Robert J. Hearon, Austin, Tex.

Application June 25, 1947, Serial No. 756,867

7 Claims. 1

This invention relates generally to boats and more particularly to the type of boat in which provision is made for occupants thereof to actuate propulsion means by which the boat is driven, or propelled.

One object of the invention is to provide a boat of the character described in which J'etoperated propulsion means is provided.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a boat of the character described, jet-operated propulsion means wherein provision is made for steering the boat by controlling the direction of the propulsion jet.

Another object of the invention is to provide pumping mechanism actuated by occupants of the boat, the pumping facilities being disposed so that the intake of the pump is submerged below the surface of the water and arranged to discharge a hydraulic jet through jet mechanism disposed at the rear of the boat and submerged below the surface of the water.

Another object of the invention is to provide a boat in which a pair of pontoon members are secured in spaced parallel relation by means including a deck on which means are provided for seating occupants of the boat in position to actuate pedal-operated pumping means.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a boat of the character described means for readily assembling and dismounting the essential parts of the boat for packing and transportation.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from reading the following specification wherein preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated and wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the boat with the canopy top removed,

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the top attached,

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the boat with the top removed,

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the boat with the top in place,

Fig. 5 is a detailed view partly in section showing the pump and drive mechanism,

Fig. 6 is a detailed view showing one form of the jet mechanism,

Fig. '7 is a detailed view showing another form of jet mechanism,

Fig. 8 is a detailed view of the modification shown in Fig. 7,

Fig. 9 is a detailed view showing the manner of attaching the pontoons to supporting struts.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals are used to designate like parts throughout, the boat is shown as comprising a pair of elongated, generally cylindrical pontoon members I which are secured in spaced parallel relation by means including a deck portion 2. In order to facilitate the attachment of the pontoons l to the deck 2, the pontoons may beprovided with internally threaded, hollow spud members 3 as shown particularly in Fig. 9 and the deck member 2 is suitably apertured to permit bolt members 4 to be threadedly engaged with the spud members 3 for securely attaching the deck member to the pontoons.

The pontoons and deck member are so dimensioned as to support the driving mechanism for the boat and a desired number of occupants and to this end the deck member preferably extends substantially the major portion of the length of the pontoon members. At the forward portion of the deck member 2, means are provided for mounting dual hydraulic pump unit and drive units therefor, which units are indicated at 5 in the drawings. Inasmuch as both units are substantially identical in form and construction, only one will be particularly described.

Each of the pumping units and drive mechanism therefor, as best shown in Fig. 5, comprises a gear pump of conventional design indicated at 6. The shaft I of the pump protrudes through one wall of the pump casing and carries on the outside of the casing a gear wheel la by which the shaft 1 and the inter-geared impellers 8 are driven. The pump driving gear 10!. carried by the shaft '1 and the motion transmission means be tween this gear and the pedal-actuated means for drivin the pump are enclosed within a gear casing 9, which casing provides mounting means for the gear In which is enmeshed with the gear la carried by the shaft 1. The gear 10 is also enmeshed with the main driving gear I I mounted in the upper part of the casing 9 and to which the pedal shaft I2 is fixedly secured. The pedal shaft l2 carries crank members [3 to which are attached pedals l4 whereby rotation of the pedals [4 causes rotation of the gear I I and this rotation is transmitted through the transmission gear l0 and la to the drive shaft 1 of the pump.

The units 5 such as just described, are each mounted on the forward part of the deck member 2 with the pump casing 6 disposed beneath the level of the deck and with the intake port l5 of the pump submerged a suitable distance below the level of the water. This insures sealing the pump intake at all times and providing for a fully primed pump at all times. The units 5 may be supported on the deck 2 by slotting the deck to permit passage of the pump casing 6 therethrough and the provision of supporting fiange members 16 carried by the casing member 9 and engaging the upper surface of the deck 2. As shown in Fig. 1, two such units 5 are disposed in transversely spaced relation near the fore part of the deck 2. Rearwardly of said units 5 and disposed transversely of the deck 2, is a seat or bench i? positioned to support occupants of the boat in relation to the pedals M of the units 5 so that said occupants may readily operate the submerged pump units, while seated on the bench 11. The discharge from the pumps 6 is conveyed to a jet device indicated generally by the numeral I 8 mounted adjacent the rear portion of the boat and submerged beneath the surface of the water, whereby the discharge from the jet device functions to propel the boat along the surface of the water. The jet device i8, shown more particularly in Fig. 6, comprises a pair of nozzle members I9 supported in generally parallel spaced relation by a bracket member secured by a nut 2! to the lower end of a shaft 22 mounted for rotation about a vertical axis in a supporting strut 23. As shown in Fig. 4, the supporting strut 23 may be secured to the pontoons l by bolt members 25 passing through opposite ends of the strut and into threaded spud members such as 3, see Fig. 9. The shaft 22, preferably above the strut 23, is provided with a pulley 25, the latter being secured to the shaft 22 by a set screw 26 or any similar means. The pulley 25 is connected by a belt or sprocket chain 2'! with a pulley secured to a shaft 2% which is mounted for rotation about a vertical axis in bearings 39 carried by the deck 2. The upper part of the shaft 29 is provided with a control or handle portion 3! which is disposed within easy reach of persons seated on the seat or bench ll so that the jet device l8 may be turned about a vertical axis of the shaft 22 to direct the jets issuing from the nozzles l9 laterally of the longitudinal center line of the boat to thereby steer the same on any desired course. The jet device i8 receives the discharge from the pumps canopy 33 covering that portion of the deck and seat occupied by the boat occupants, the canopy 33 being supported by standards 34 received in suitable socket members 35 carried by the deck member 2.

In Fig. '7, I have shown a modified form of jet n device wherein a pair of horizontally disposed nozzle members 36 are connected to a vertically extending pipe or conduit 37, the latter being mounted for rotation about a vertical axis in a strut member 38. The upper end of the pipe or conduit '3'? is provided with a conventional swivel type coupling 39, which is connected to one end of a Y-shaped pipe fitting 46 mounted in an auxiliary bracket member 4!, extending generally parallel to the strut 38 and secured thereto at its opposite ends as indicated at 42. Above the auxiliary bracket M the pipe fitting 4U terminates in dual branches 43 which in turn are connected respectively to conduit members M communicating with the discharge ports of the pumps 66.

The swiveled upper end of the conduit 31 carries a pulley 35 secured thereto by a set screw 46 and the pulley G5 is connected by sprocket chain or belt 4'! to the pulley 28 carried at the lower end of the control shaft 29. In this instance it is not necessary to provide any slack in the conduits dd inasmuch as the swivel connection 39 permits the pipe connection 40 to remain fixed and immovable.

Having thus described the invention, it is apparent that I have provided a boat comprising a pair of pontoons which may be quickly and readily attached to a deck member and/or a strut memher for purposes of maintaining the pontoons in operable spaced relation when assembled and which may be readily dismounted for transportation from place to place when desired. Furthermore, the pedal operated pump mechanisms provide means whereby occupants of the boat may deliver hydraulic fluid to a jet propulsion device which is movably mounted and under the control of the operators so that the boat may be driven and steered by said operator-operated jet propulsion device.

It will, of course, be understood that while I have shown the jet propulsion and steering device mounted upon a strut member at the rear of the boat, said strut member may be dispensed with if desired and shaft 22, of Figs. 1-6, or the combined conduit and jet member 36-31 of Fig. '7, may be mounted upon the rear portion of the deck member. This construction would require only a slight elongation of the shaft 22 or the conduit 3? to insure the jet device being properly submerged.

While I have chosen to describe preferred embodiments of the invention, other changes insize and construction of parts will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the inven tion relates, which modifications may be made without departure from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Thus, while I have shown and described a gear drive for the pump, it may be desirable in some instances, and more economical, to employ a chain and sprocket drive. Also, while I have shown dual drive units and pumps for supplying fiuid to the propulsion jet, it is of course evident that the boat may be operated with only one of said units in use or if desired, the boat may be arranged to have only one such drive and pump unit in place of the two as shown.

Furthermore, it is apparent that while I have shown and described water pumps for providing hydraulic fluid for the propulsion jets, it is perfectly feasible to employ air pumps or compressors to deliver air under pressure to the propulsion jets. In either event, the propulsion jet member may be arranged to provide plural jets as shown or a single jet if desired.

It should further be noted that while I have shown only a single cross strut such as 23, at the rear end of the boat, it may be desirable in instances where the pontoons are of considerable length, to provide a similar cross strut at the front end of the boat. Furthermore, to eliminate the drag or resistance "on the boat due to that part of the pump unit which is submerged, I can, if desired, raise the pump units clear of the water and provide short induction pi between the intake ports t5 and the water.

It should also be noted that with the propulsion mechanism of the form shown in Figs. 1 through 4, the direction of the boat may be reversed by reversing the direction of rotation v of the pedal operated drive means, whereas with the construction as shown inFigs. '7 and 8, the swivel mounting of the jet device permits com plete rotation thereof to provide for reverse propulsion when desired. In respect'to the construction shown in Figs. 1-4, itwill be noted that the inlet and discharge ports of the pump face in opposite directions, the normal intake port facing forwardly. Thus if the direction of rotation of the pedal-operated mechanism is reversed, the forwardly directed inlet port becomes the discharge port of the pump, and the reaction of this discharge on the water will cause rearward motion of the boat.

It should also be noted'that while the present invention has been described in connection with a pontoon type of boat, it is not so restricted in use, and is applicable to all types of small craft, such as rowboats, canoes, and the like.

Having thus described my invention what is claimed as new is:

1. A boat including a pair of elongated pontoons, boat deck means securing said pontoons in spaced,'parallel relation, and operator-operated jet propulsion means supported from said pontoons for propelling the boat, said jet propulsion means including a hydraulic pump, a submerged jet member and conduit means connecting the pump discharge with said submerged jet member, said pump, jet means, and conduit means being disposed below said deck member and between said pontoons.

2. A boat including a pair of pontoons, means including a deck member securing said pontoons in spaced, parallel relation, a hydraulic pump mounted beneath said deck member with the intake of said pump submerged, operator-operated means mounted on said deck member for driving the pump, a jet device, means connected to the pontoons for supporting the jet device in submerged relation rearwardly of said pump, and conduit means connecting the pump discharge with said submerged jet device whereby to propel the boat, said jet device being mounted for rotation on a substantially vertical axis, and means for turning said jet device about said axis to direct the jet issuing therefrom laterally of the longitudinal axis of the boat whereby to steer the same.

3. A boat including a'pair of elongated pontoons, means including a deck member for securing the pontoons in spaced, parallel relation, a hydraulic pump mounted on the fore part of the deck member with the intake port of said pump submerged, pedal actuated drive means for said pump, a seat member mounted on the deck member in operative relation to said pedal actuated means whereby an occupant of the boat while sitting on said seat may operate the pedal actuated drive for the pump, a hydraulic jet device supported in submerged relation at the rear of the boat between said pontoons, flexible conduit means for delivering the discharge of the pump to said jet device, means for movably supporting the jet device whereby the jet delivered thereby may be directed rearwardly or laterally of the boat, and manually operated means positioned adjacent the seat member for controlling the direction of the jet, and motiontransmission means positioned beneath the deck and between the pontoons for actuating the jet device from said manually operated means.

4. A boat including a pair of elongated pontoons, means including a deck member for securing the pontoons in spaced, parallel relation,

6. a pair of hydraulic pumps mounted in the fore part of the deck member with the intake ports of said pumps submerged, pedal actuated drive means for said pumps, a seat member mounted on the deck member in operative relation to said pedal actuated means whereby occupants of the boat while sitting on said seat may operate the pedal actuated drive for the pumps, a hydraulic jet device supported in submerged relation at the rear of the boat between said pontoons, flexible conduit means for delivering the discharge of the pumps to said jet device, means for movably supporting the jet device whereby the jet delivered thereby may be directed rearwardly or laterally of the boat, and manually operated means positioned adjacent the seat member for controlling the direction of the jet, said jet device including dual nozzle members mounted in spaced, parallel relation on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the boat, and movable in unison about a vertical axis in response to control movements of said manually operated control means.

5. A boat including a pair of elongated pontoons, means including a deck member for securing the pontoons in spaced, parallel relation, a pair of hydraulic pumps mounted for support by said pontoons with the pump intake ports submerged, said pumps being disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the boat, pedal operated means for actuating said pumpsfseat means for supporting occupants of said boat in position to operate said pedal-operated means, hydraulic jet means disposed near the rear of the boat, dual conduit means for delivering the discharge of said pumps to said hydraulic jet means, means for mounting said jet means in submerged relation and for movement about a substantially vertical axis, and control means for the jet means, said control means including means disposed adjacent said seat member for operation by an operator of said pedal operated means.

6. A boat including a pair of elongated pontoons, means including a deck member for securing the pontoons in spaced, parallel relation, a pair of hydraulic pumps mounted for support by said pontoons with the pump intake ports submerged, said pumps being disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the boat, pedal operated means for actuating said pumps, seat means for supporting occupants of said boat in position to operate said pedal-operated means, hydraulic jet means disposed near the rear of the boat, flexible conduit means for delivering the discharge of said pumps to said hydraulic jet means, means for mounting said jet means in submerged relation and for movement about a substantially vertical axis, and control means for the jet means, said control means including means disposed adjacent said seat member for operation by an operator of said pedal operated means, said hydraulic jet device including a pair of nozzle members disposed in spaced, parallel relation on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the boat and mounted for movement in uni son in response to operator-initiated movements of said control means.

7. A boat including a pair of elongated pontoons, means including a deck member for securing the pontoons in spaced, parallel relation, a pair of hydraulic pumps mounted for support by said pontoons with the pump intake ports submerged, said pumps being disposed on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the boat, pedal operated means for actuating said pumps, seat means for supporting occupants of said boat in position to operate said pedal-operated means, hydraulic jet means disposed near the rear of the boat, said jet device comprising a pipe fitting having a vertically disposed portion mounted for rotation about a substantially vertical axis and terminating at its lower extremity in a pair of parallel laterally spaced horizontally disposed nozzle portions lying on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the boat, the other end of said pipe fitting being rotatably connected to the lower end of the central branch of a Y- shaped pipe connector, conduit means connecting the discharge ports of said pumps with the remaining branches of the Y-shapecl pipe connector, steering control means mounted adjacent said seat member, and means for rotating the rotatably mounted pipe fitting in respect to movement of the control means.

ROBERT J. HEARON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 179,266 Chapman June 27, 1876 540,680 Moulton June 11, 1895 638,211 Boes Dec. 5, 1899 1,794,417 Nador Mar. 3, 1931 2,384,981 Wallace Sept. 18, 1945 2,401,453 Bell et a1 June 4, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 14,177 Great Britain A. D. 1896 435,306 France Feb. 27, 1912 

